Heel protector



Sept. 19, 1950 s. c. MALOY HEEL PROTECTOR Filed May 5, 1948 Patented Sept. 19, 1950 HEEL PROTECTOR Sarah Craven Maloy, Knoxville, Tenn. Application May 3, 1948, Serial No. 24,762

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in heel protectors and is designed for the purpose of 'being worn in combination with b-ackless, and strap heel or sling strap shoes and sandals.

In a sling strap pump or strap heel or open back shoe, the heels of the wearer, except for stocking covering, are open and exposed to inclement weather, such as rain, snow and cold temperatures, as well as water and mud splashed from streets, roads and walks.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide an efficient heel protector to be used in combination with such footwear which will, when in use, protect the wearers heels from inclement Weather, such as rain and snow, as well as from the discomfort of cold temperatures.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heel protector to be used in combination with such footwear so designed as practically to convert such open heel shoes, when used in combination with them, into conventional high corunter pumps or low quarter shoes.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a heel rprotector for footwear that it may be readily attached to and detached from the shoe at the will of the user, so as quickly to convert such shoes from open-heel footwear to practically closed-heel footwear, and the reverse.

Said heel protector may be made with conventional stiff counter or of thin, pliable material, which may be carried easily in a pocket or ladys handbag, to be used when the occasion may dictate.

One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the protector embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of this protector shown attached to a sling strap pump; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the protector removed and showing the retaining strap in an open position.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the heelprotector generally, which preferably is made from any soft flexible material and may be either leather, leatherette or plastic, or any other substantial material. The protector may be made in several pieces and sewn together or may be molded in one piece to fit the heel of the wearer.

The rotector is provided with an insole or bottom section 6, which is shaped to conform to the bottom of the heel of the wearers foot, or to the sole of the shoe at the heel portion thereof.

2 Attached to the bottom section 6 is an upstanding partially surrounding side I, forming a high counter or upper of the heel portion of the protector. This side or counter 1 preferably extends upwardly above the upper edge of the shoe strap I1, inwardly of the latter, formin a closed heel portion for the shoe.

This upstanding side 1, when the protector is not formed in one integral piece, may be attached to the bottom 6 along a line 8, by means of stitching, glue, or other fastening. On the inside of both the bottom 6 and the side 1, may be sewn or glueda fabric lining 9, if desired, to give added comfort to the wearer of the protector. The fabric lining 9 is stitched to the side 1 by stitches l0 and to the base 6 along the line 8.

Provision is made for attaching the protec-' tor 5 to the shoe, preferablyfto the strap I 1.

While any suitable fastening means may be used for the purpose, I have shown a loop or strap II for detachably fastening the protector thereto. In this form, the strap; or loop I I is securely attached to the upstanding side member 1 at the top of the back thereof, although similar loops or f astenings may be .usedat other points, if desired. The strap II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, may be stitched or sewn at one end l5 thereof to the side member I, 'or if the protector is made of a plastic material, the strap II may be made integral instead of stitched. However, the heel protector may be attached to the shoe strap and upper part of the shoe with any number of straps or detachable fastenings to give it greater stability in use, or may be attached to the shoe by snap fastenings located in the inner sole and f as-v tening into counter-sunk members in the permanent sole of the shoe, or by other suitable de tachable fastenings, especially when the protector is sold as a detachable part of the shoe, an accessory thereon capable of removal.

Carried upon the end of the strap ll, opposite the end attached to the'side l, is the head or top .portion of a snap fastener l2, and attached to the upstanding member 1 is the opposite or companion part l3 of the. snap fastener. As shown in the drawings, the snapfastener may be of any conventional type, or if desired, other suitable form of detachable fasteners may be substituted therefor, such as a buckle, which could be used quite satisfactorily. Further, it would not be necessary to provide a detachable fastening for the strap II, but the end M of the strap ll could be sewn or otherwise attached as at l5 to form a closed loop.

The use of this protector is best illustrated in l6, and is one be applied, and v for surrounding the which has a heel strap l1 adapted wearers heel. Occasionally these straps are provided With some adjustable means such as a buckle l8, although frequently they are made in one piece. As is well known, the heel of the wearer in this type of shoe or pump is open and exposed adjacent the strap I1.

When the weather is inclement and the wearer desires to protecther heel, the protector 5 is placed upon the heel portion of the sole. strap I? then will surround the top portion of the promoter 5 as shown. down over the strap l1 and snapped into placeby means of the fastener l2. This combination holds the protector on the wearers heel as long The.

The strap ll then islooped as it is desired to be worn. It may be removed simply and easily even without removing the shoe, by detaching the snap fastener |2l3 and separating the strap H from the strap IT, whet-r the rotector may be withdrawn entirely from the shoe and heel.

It is to be understood that changes in material, fastenings, type of loop, strap and stitching ma be made without departing fromthe spiritof this invention, except as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A heel protector adapted for use in combina tion with a strap heelshoe or'open heel shoe, comprising an upstanding'member for detachable application to such shoe and of sufficient height; to extend above the lower margin of the strap and forward 'to close the cut away portion of the shoe with which it is worn, fully coveringthat portion of the back and sides of the wearers heel and foot which would otherwise be exposed, by, the cut away portion of the shoe between the strap and the sole with'which it'is worn, a strap. affixed at one end to the top side of' the upstanding member in positionto embrace said shoe strap, and a separable fastener affixed to the opposite: end of said protector strap and to theiba'ck' of said upstanding, member to secure theistraprm a loop for receiving the strap of said shoe.

- 2. A heel protector comprising, an upstanding side member shaped fully to cover the back and sides of the wearers. heel, and a retaining. strap affixed to the side member and having, 'd'etach'' able means connected therewith for detachable connection with a strap of a backl'ess shoe todetachably attach the heel protector to, the shoe. 3. A heel protector adapted to be worn with an open back strap shoe comprising, a bottom member formed to fit the. shape of the bottom of "the wearers. heel, and an upstanding member, fat-j tached to the bottom member toform aprotective covering for the. heel of the wearer, saidflupe standing member being high enough to reach at least abovethe bottom of the strap of the ,Shoe

. with which it isworn and extending forward about the sides so as to fill completely thecut away portion of the shoe with which it is worn between the shoe strap and the permanent sole,

7 and a retaining strap'in the form of a loop attached to the back of said upstanding member adapted to detachably receive therethrough a strap of the shoe with which it is worn.

4, A heel protector adapted to be worn in combination with an open back strap shoe comprising a stocking protective member, having a bottom formed to fit the shape of the bottom of the wearers heel and an upstanding member affixed to the bottom member to form a covering for the back and sides of: the wearers heel, and a strap afliXed to a portion f the upstanding member in position to embrace and receive the strap of the shoe with which it is being worn, and 'a separable snap fastener carried by the opposite end of the protector member strap and the upstandingmember to secure said strap in a. loop for receiving the strap of said shoe.

5. A heel protector comprising an upstanding side member shaped to partially cover the back and sides of the wearers heel, and a retaining strap affixed to the side member and havingsmcans substantiallyat the upper portion of. said mem ber constructed. to detachablyre'ceive a strap of a backless shoe.

6. A heel protector adapted to be worn with an open heel shoe having; a strap about the back thereof, comprising a stocking protective member formed to fit the heel of thewearer; and: a loop affixed to the member: and mounted substantially at the upper portionthereof adapted to. embrace the strap oftheshoe to: hold. the protective member in place- 7 A, heel protector comprising a bottom. member formed to fit the shape. of the bottom of the wearers heel, an upstanding member attached. to the bottom memberto form a; protective. covering for the heel of the wearer, and aretainii'ig strap in the formof a loop attached to, the upper portion of the back of said upstanding member adapted'to receive therethrough; astrap of ashes;

8. A. heel. protector adapted; to be worn a strap back shoe, comprising a stocking protective member havinga bottom formedftoifit the shape of the bottom of the wearers heel and' an upstanding member aflixed to the bottom member to form a covering-for the back. and sides of the wearers heel; astrapaffixedat; one end to the topv ofitheupstandingrmember in post-- tion to embrace the shoe strap'and a separable" snap fastener carriedzibytthe opposite end of the protectormember strap andtheiupstand'ing mem+ ber to secure said strap; in a loop for receiving the strap of said. shoe;

w CRAVE'N'MALQSC- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? 

